Controversial tenure of then civic chief Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal: A review of accusations and their consequences

X : @vivekbhavsar

PART I

Mumbai: Dr. Iqbal Singh Chahal, currently Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for Maharashtra, is indeed surrounded by a host of allegations stemming from his tenure as the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). These allegations encompass a range of misconduct, including exceeding his authority, abusing power for the advantage of private individuals or corporations, approving illegal permits for building development or redevelopment, allocating municipal lands or markets to developers through decisions that favored them while causing losses to the BMC, shielding unauthorized developments, granting illegal approvals under regulation 6(b) of the DCPR 2034 by misusing his power under the pretense of ‘HARDSHIP’, and making decisions beyond his jurisdiction that resulted in a loss of hundreds of crores to the Government, among others.

These controversies have fuelled public and political outrage, especially given Chahal’s ambitions to take on the role of Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. Vivek Bhavsar, Editor-in-Chief of TheNews21, will release a series of articles documenting the various allegations against him, backed by documentary evidence, to shed further light on his conduct during his time in office.

On May 8, 2020, Dr. Iqbal Singh Chahal was appointed as the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a role he held until March 20, 2024. His tenure included managing one of India’s largest municipal bodies during the critical phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was often praised for his efforts to control the crisis in Mumbai. However, his leadership has also been marred by allegations of corruption and misuse of power during this period.

Also Read: Part II : Controversial tenure of civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal: A review of accusations and their consequences

After the term of the elected members of the BMC ended on March 7, 2022, the Maharashtra government appointed Dr Chahal as the Administrator of BMC. In this position, he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, finances, and administrative affairs of the civic body in the absence of an elected council. This extended his influence over Mumbai’s civic governance as he continued to oversee the functioning of the BMC, making key decisions related to the city’s infrastructure and services without the checks of an elected body.

After Dr. Chahal was appointed Administrator of BMC following the conclusion of the elected members’ terms, he gained sole authority to approve proposals related to civic projects and redevelopments. Under the previous system, such proposals were submitted for approval to the works committee, improvement committee, and standing committee of the BMC. However, during Chahal’s tenure, these committees no longer existed, and his position as administrator allowed him to approve applications single-handedly.

Dr. Chahal’s tenure as the Municipal Commissioner of the BMC has been the subject of various allegations of misconduct and unlawful activities. These claims cover a range of issues, including the approval of illegal development projects, misuse of authority, and decisions that allegedly favoured third parties.

One major area of controversy involved the approval of redevelopment projects that were not clearly addressed by existing regulations, such as Regulation 33(20)(B) of DCPR 2034, which does not explicitly cover the redevelopment of existing buildings on private plots. Despite this ambiguity, Dr. Chahal gave approvals for such projects without the formation of a committee to review these proposals. Sources from the Housing department claimed that these decisions bypassed the usual checks and balances that would have been provided by an officer committee, leading to accusations of favouritism and improper conduct.

This article by TheNews21 aims to provide an overview of the key accusations against Dr. Chahal, backed by documented evidence, and discusses the wider implications for governance reforms and the need for stronger accountability mechanisms in India’s civic institutions.

Illegal Approvals and Overstepping Authority

One of the primary accusations against Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal involves the issuance of unauthorised permissions for construction and renovation projects that violated the parameters of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034. It is alleged that Dr Chahal frequently overstepped his authority by approving projects that did not conform to the established regulatory framework outlined in the DCPR 2034.

These approvals reportedly allowed for the conversion of Free-of-Floor Space Index (FSI) areas into habitable spaces, as well as unauthorised modifications to elevation features.

The alleged misuse of DCPR 2034, which is intended to provide relief in cases of genuine hardship, stands out as one of the more troubling aspects of the accusations against Dr. Chahal. This regulation was designed to allow for flexibility in urban planning when specific legal conditions might create undue difficulty or hardship for a project. However, during Chahal’s tenure as Municipal Commissioner and later as BMC Administrator, it is claimed that this provision was misapplied to benefit developers and other private stakeholders.

By invoking Regulation 6(b) under the pretext of addressing “hardship,” Chahal is accused of circumventing the usual legal and bureaucratic processes that govern construction and redevelopment projects. The flexibility meant for special circumstances was allegedly used to approve projects that did not comply with the DCPR 2034’s regulatory standards, bypassing proper review and oversight.

Critics argue that this not only undermined the legal integrity of Mumbai’s urban planning framework but also set a dangerous precedent for future governance, where regulations could be selectively applied for the benefit of influential parties. (to be continued….)